Arvid Forssi

Arvid Johannes Forssi, age 93, of Nisswa, MN, formerly of Duluth, died Thursday, July 7, 2011. He was born and raised in Wawina, MN. A long-time resident of Duluth, he moved to Nisswa in 1987. He lived most recently at the Good Samaritan Village - Bethany in Brainerd, MN.

Arvid retired in 1979 after 30 years with the Duluth Board of Education as a heating engineer. He previously sailed on the steamer Winjah as an oiler and fireman. He also worked in the government dredge Gailard, and sailed on the ore boats. He worked for KleerFlax Linen Looms, Northern Cold Storage, W.A. Ojala Construction, and Riverside Heating Corporation.

He was a member of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Duluth and Christ Community Church in Nisswa. Arvid was a member of the Finnish Historical Society, Masonic Trinity Lodge No. 282 and a 32nd Degree Mason in the Valley of Duluth, Orient of Minnesota. Arvid was an avid hunter and fisherman - respected among his friends as a "dead shot." He recently achieved one of his lifelong dreams of visiting Alaska and fishing in the rich Alaskan waters - he caught a 4 foot salmon.

Arvid was preceded in death by his wife, Ellen; his parents, Andrew and Aliina Santa Pakka Forssi; three sisters; three brothers; and grandson, Eric Martin. He is survived by his daughter, Shirley Lummus and her husband, Chuck, of Duluth, MN and Sun City, AZ; grandson, Wes Martin; three great-granddaughters; and two great-grandsons.

Services for Arvid will be held at 1:00 PM, Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at Good Samaritan Village - Bethany Chapel in Brainerd, MN. Family and friends are invited to gather one hour prior to services.